Aerosol container assembly with built-in liquid applicator



R. NYDEN 3,156,942

AEROSOL CONTAINER ASSEMBLY WITH BUILT-IN LIQUID APPLICATOR Nov. 17, 1964 Filed June 19, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT NYOEN United States Patent 3,156,942 AERGS IBL QQNTATNiE-R ddSEMBLY WITH BUILT-RN LlQUlE-t APPHCATUR Robert Nyden, Manhasset, NY assignor to Fittsburgh Plastics Division Heeirin (Ian Co. Filed lane 19, 1963, Ser. No. 289,039 9 Claims. (till. -517) The present invention relates generally to aerosol container assemblies and in particular to an aerosol container assembly having a built-in liquid applicator as an integral part thereof.

Within the past few years, aerosol dispensing of liquids has found widespread acceptance, and more recently, cleaning solutions have also been adapted to aerosolization. This use of aerosol dispensing of cleaning fiuids, particularly for home spot removing, has proved advantageous, since the contained volatile liquids are effectively sealed against evaporation in the aerosol container, and a controlled amount of fluid can be conveniently applied to soiled fabric or the like by spraying. However, in the use of such cleaning fluids, it is not enough merely to apply the fluid to the soiled area; it is then necessary to rub or wipe the solution into the soiled surface, as well as to remove the foreign matter from the soiled surface which has been dissolved by the cleaning ingredients.

Customarily, a separate cloth or pad is employed for wiping and rubbing the cleaning fluid. Where the fluid is contained in bottles, a cloth is often inserted in the package containing the bottle. Aerosol containers, however, are usually in the form of unpackaged cans, and wiping cloths or pads cannot be conveniently stored therewith for constant availability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved aerosol assembly including as an integral part thereof an applicator for rubbing deposited liquid cleaning ingredients into a soiled surface.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an aerosol assembly of the character described in which the absorbent applicator is a fixed part of the closure cap for the aerosol container, the applicator being constantly available with the container whenever needed, and the closure cap, when removed, serving as a handle for the applicator.

A further object of the present invention is the aerosol assembly of the character described in which the applicator is stored in an air-sealed condition when the closure cap is mounted on the container.

In accordance with the invention herein, there is pro vided in an aerosol assembly including a container holding a supply of pressurized propellant gas and a liquid such as cleaning fluid, and having a manually-operable valve structure for dispensing the contained liquid in the form of a spray. The assembly also includes a closure cap which is removably attached to the top of the container to cover over the valve structure. An applicator member is mounted in the closure cap in such a manner as to protrude from the bottom of the cap when the latter is removed, and therefore to provide an exposed surface for wiping or rubbing the liquid sprayed from the container, while the cap is employed as a handle. In its preferred form, the applicator member is cylindrical and tubular, being contained in an annular groove at the bottom of the closure cap. The cap is so arranged as to hold the applicator member in stored condition and to provide an air-tight seal about the applicator member when the closure cap is mounted on the container.

The above brief description as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an aerosol spray assembly embodying features of the present invention, showing the upper portion of an aerosol container with the cover or closure cap removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the closure cap and upper portion of the container in the disassembled view shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the closure cap in mounted position on the aerosol container;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the closure cap shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of the applicator shown removed from the cover, with portions thereof broken away and sectioned.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown an aerosol spray package in the form of a conventional metal aerosol container or can 10 which is sealed under pressure by a top closure section 12. The top closure section 12 is made of dished configuration for receiving and mounting a removable closure cap 16.

The container 10 is the conventional and well-known type of aerosol can which is employed to contain a propellant gas and active ingredient under pressure, and to dispense the active ingredient in the form of a fine spray. The propellant is usually composed of low boiling fluorochlorohydrocarbons, freons, genetrons or isotrons. These are used singly, in blends and sometimes with methyl chloride or methylene chloride, as is well known in the art. The propellant gas and cleaning solution are stored within the container It? which is sealed by closure section 12, to provide a completely sealed unit, thereby avoiding leakage or atmosphere oxidation.

The invention herein is applicable to an aerosol container which contains and dispenses a liquified cleaning solution onto a soiled surface, or dispenses in spray form other liquids which must then be wiped upon the application surface.

The cylindrical container 10 is preferably made of light gauge metal capable of withstanding pressurization. At its top end, the container 10 has a neck portion 18 which terminates in an upstanding circular flange 20. The circular flange 20 is folded over to form a beveled edge 22 for engaging the closure section 12.

The closure section 12 is cup-shaped, having a trans verse wall 24 bordered by an upstanding wall or flange 26. At its center, the transverse wall 24 has an upstanding boss 28 of substantially cylindrical configuration, forming with the outer wall 26 an annular recess 39. The closure section 12 is inserted within the container neck portion 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and outer wall 26 is folded over the flange 29 to form an outer beveled edge 32. It will be noted that the exterior portion of wall 26 and the interior portion of rim 20 are in contact with one another to completely seal the container against leakage.

The central boss 28 has a top wall containing a central opening 34 which communicates with a through bore 36 of larger diameter. A valve bushing 35 is seated with in bore 36, the bushing 38 having a bore 39 of the same size as opening 34. The valve bushing 38 is part of a release valve assembly, which is conventional and wellknown, and therefore not illustrated herein.

As best seen in FIG. 2, actuator means 40 is provided for releasing a spray of the contents of container 10 into the air. The actuator means 40 includes a tubular valve stem 42 which communicates with the interior of container 10 through the aforementioned valve assembly, and an operating button or finger piece 44 mounted on the top end of the stem 42. The button has an L-shaped bore 46 which communicates with the interior of valve stem 42 and with an opening 48 in the wall of the button 44. When the button 44 is manually depressed, it lowers the valve stem to actuate the valve and release a spray of pressurized and atomized liquid through the opening 48.

The closure cap 16 is preferably molded of an inert plastic material with a central cylindrical chamber 50 which is sized to receive and contain the boss 28 and the finger piece or button 44 when said closure cap 16 is mounted on the top closure section 12, as shown in P16. 3. It will be noted that the boss 28 may fit snugly within the chamber 50 so that the closure cap 16 provides a tight seal about the valve assembly of the container. On the other hand, the finger piece or button 44 is of lesser diameter than the boss 28 so that it does not engage the wall of the chamber 50. Optionally, clearance may be provided between boss 28 and the wall of chamber '0 so that no seal is provided at this area. The central chamber 50 is surrounded by an annular chamber 52which is concentric therewith and extends longitudinally from the bottom wall 54 of closure cap 16 to a point approximately centrally of said closure cap. The annular chamber 52 communicates with an annular extension 56 of lesser width, forming a shoulder 58 therewith.

The closure cap 16 is formed with an inner side wall '60 which serves as the outer wall of annular chamber 52, and an outer side wall 62 which is appreciably shorter than the inner side wall 69. The upper ends of the walls 60 and 62 are spaced by an annular groove 64 for the purpose of extending the length of inner side wall 60 sufficiently to make it slightly bendable and resilient. The lower end of the inner side wall 6% is also bent outwardly as shown at 60a in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The annular chamber 52 of closure cap 16 is sized to receive an applicator 68 made of an absorbent material, such as wool felt, which has been compressed into a fairly rigid insert member. As shown in FIG. 5, the applicator 68 is generally cylindrical and tubular .in shape having a central through bore 70 and flat top and bottom surfaces 72 and 74. It is preferable that the outer diameter of the applicator 68 be slightly larger than the outerdiarneter of the annular chamber 52, so that said applicator 68, which is resilient, may be securely mounted in the closure cap 16 by means of a press fit. When the applicator 68 is fully inserted into the annular chamber 52, its top surface 72 is seated on shoulder 58, and its cylindrical wall is compressed between the walls of annular chamber 52. V The applicator 68 is of greater length than the annular chamber 52, so that its lower end projects below the closure cap bottom wall 54, as shown in FIG. 2. The annular bore extension 56 communicates with the upper or inner end of the inserted applicator 68, being thus adapted to receive excess liquid absorbed by the applicator.

When the closure cap 16 is inserted on the closure section 12 of the container 10, it provides a snug, snapon fit therewith. As the closure cap 16 is pressed downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3, the central bore 51) receives the finger piece 44 and the upper end of central boss 28. The outwardly-bent lower end 6011 of inner side wall 65) engages the outer beveled edge 32 of the upstanding flange 26, and, as it is pressed downwardly thereagainst, the beveled edge 32 compresses said lower end 60a and bends it inwardly. The inwardly-bent end 60a slides downwardly along the flange 26, and since the lower end of the latter is concavely-shaped, it expands when it reaches its fully-mounted position of FIG. 3 to provide a snap-fit for the closure cap 16. i

In the mounted poistion of FIG. 3, the outer side wall 62 of closure cap 16 is seated upon the outer beveled edge 32 of flange 26, stopping further downward sliding movement of the closure cap 16 and positioning the bottom surface 54 thereof in spaced relationship above transverse wall 24 of closure section 12. The lower edge 74 of applicator 68 lightly engages the transverse wall 24- or may be slightly spaced thereabove. The applicator 68 is located within the annular recess 30 and is held spaced between the upstanding flange 26 and the boss 28 so that it does not engage or wipe against these parts in inserting or removing the closure cap. Further, the engagement of the inner cap wall 60 with the flange 26 provides an outer air-tight annular seal around the applicator 68, while the engagement of the wall of central chamber 50 with the boss 28 provides an inner air-tight annular seal around the applicator, if desired.

An air opening 76 is provided in the top wall of closure cap 16 in communication with the central chamber 50 thereof. This opening 76 allows the escape of air when the closure cap 16 is inserted into the annular recess 3! in use, assuming by way of example that the container lib is filled with cleaning fluid, the closure cap 16 is removed, and the finger piece 4 depressed in the usual mannor to direct a spray of the cleaning fluid to the surface of a fabric or the like to be cleaned. in the act of removing the closure cap for access of the valve finger piece, the applicator 68 is automatically removed from its stored position and made available for immediate use. The closure cap 16 serves as the handle for the applicator 659 and is grasped by the user while the bottom surface 74 of the applicator is rubbed or wiped along the sprayed fabric area for spreading the cleaning solution along the fabric surface and removing foreign material therefrom. After such use, when the closure cap is replaced, the applicator is again sealed in stored position so that it is constantly available with the container itself.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve actuating means surrounded by a circular flange; a combined closure cap and applicator member for said container, said closure cap having a hollow area sized to receive the valve actuating means of said container, said applicator member being formed of absorbent material and being secured to said closure cap exteriorly of said hollow area with a portion of said applicator member projecting beyond the bottom surface of said closure cap, and means for removably mounting said closure cap on said con tainer with said valve actuating means received in said hollow area, and with said closure cap attaching said applicator member to said container.

2. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve actuating means surrounded by a circular flange; a combined closure cap and applicator for said container, said closure cap having a circular bottom portion sized to fit within the circular flange of said container to cover said valve actuating means, and an applicator member of absorbent material secured to the bottom end of said closure cap and projecting beyond the'bottcm surface thereof, said closure cap in its mounted position on said container providing with said flange a removable mount for said applicator member on said container.

3. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve acvide a snap-on fit when said closure cap is inserted within said circular flange, and an applicator member of absorbent material secured to the bottom end of said closure cap and projecting beyond the bottom surface there of, said closure cap in its mounted position on said container also providing with said flange an air-tight seal about said applicator member.

4. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve actuating means surrounded by a circular flange; a combined closure cap and applicator for said container, said closure cap having a circular bottom portion sized to fit Within the circular flange of said container to mount said closure cap on said container with the closure cap covering said valve actuating means, and an applicator member of absorbent material secured to the bottom end of said closure cap and projecting beyond the bottom surface thereto, said closure cap having an annular groove and said applicator member having a tubular shape for containment in said annular groove, said closure cap in its mounted position on said container providing an air-tight seal about said applicator member.

5. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve actuating means surrounded by a circular flange; a combined closure cap and applicator for said container, said closure cap having a circular bottom portion sized to fit within the circular flange of said container to cover said valve actuating means and to provide an air-tight seal thereabout, and an applicator member of absorbent material secured to the bottom end of said closure cap and projecting beyond the bottom surface thereof, said closure cap being slidably mounted on said circular flange of the container in a storage position for providing an air-tight seal about said applicator member, and an outer beveled edge formed on said closure cap for stopping downward sliding movement of said closure cap at said storage posi tion, thereby maintaining the bottom edge of said applica- 6 tor member spaced above the bottom end of said circular flange of the container.

6. For use in an aerosol assembly including a container for pressurized fluid to be dispensed in spray form on a surface and requiring a wiping application on said surface after spraying, said container having projecting valve actuating means surrounded by a circular flange; a combined closure cap and applicator member for said container, said closure cap having a circular bottom portion sized to fit within the circular flange of said container to mount said closure cap on thecontainer and to cover said valve actuating means, said applicator member being formed of absorbent material and being secured to the lower end of said closure cap, said closure cap, in its mounted position, forming with said container flange an air-tight seal about said applicator member, said applicator member projecting beyond the bottom end of said closure cap, when the latter is removed from said container, to provide an exposed surface for rubbing said fluid spray while said closure cap is employed as a handle for said applicator member.

7. An aerosol assembly according to claim 6, wherein the bottom portion of said closure member has an outwardly-bent lower end for engaging said circular flange of the container and providing a snap-on fit when said closure cap is inserted within said circular flange.

8. An aerosol assembly according to claim 6, wherein said closure cap is slidably movable along said circular flange to a storage position, and in which an outer beveled edge is formed on said closure cap for stopping downward sliding movement of the latter at said storage position with the bottom surface of said applicator member maintained in spaced relationship with the bottom end of said circular flange.

9. An aerosol assembly according to claim 6 in which said applicator member is of annular shape and said closure cap has an annular bore receiving said applicator member for mounting the latter, and communicating with the upper end of the inserted applicator member to receive excess liquid absorbed by said applicator member.

No references cited. 

2. FOR USE IN AN AEROSOL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR PRESSURIZED FLUID TO BE DISPENSED IN SPRAY FORM ON A SURFACE AND REQUIRING A WIPING APPLICATION ON SAID SURFACE AFTER SPRAYING, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A PROJECTING VALVE ACTUATING MEANS SURROUNDED BY A CIRCULAR FLANGE; A COMBINED CLOSURE CAP AND APPLICATOR FOR SAID CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE CAP HAVING A CIRCULAR BOTTOM PORTION SIZED TO FIT WITHIN THE CIRCULAR FLANGE OF SAID CONTAINER TO COVER SAID VALVE ACTUATING MEANS, AND AN APPLICATOR MEMBER OF AB- 